This programme is so clever isn't it? There I was a couple of weeks ago thinking '90 seconds run - that's impossible' whereas today (WK5 R1) when I noticed I had 90 secs to run out of the 5 mins I just thought 'Oh I can do that'. The last 5 mins was tough but I did it!

With all your support (thanks!) the pre run gremlins seem to be disappearing. However, the during run ones are still there trying to make me stop!

How do you divert your minds from thinking about how much your legs hurt?! I have tried the podcast but can't keep the ear plugs in my ears. My thoughts today were a constant monologue of .... Ooh my calves hurt ...... Perhaps I'll stop ....... No I won't ...... Ooh my calves hurt....... I should stop ...... No I won't. ..........And so on.

20 Replies

I've tried assorted headphones over the years. I've had a good pair of Philips over-ear ones for a couple of years, but they've finally given up so I've got some new Sony ones which are a very weird shape which sort of go all around the ear, with the actual speaker bit just sitting inside the ear. (Yes, that description sounds as baffling as they are - but they work!)

Other than that, counting breaths is my main distraction. And doing maths on how far through the run I am.

It's great to see your progress, isn't it - even at the incredibly slow rate I've gone this time round, it's not *that* long since 3 mins was incredibly scary. And now I know I can do 25 mins.

Actually that's another gremlin-beater - the knowledge that you *can* do this - you've done all the previous runs, you're prepared for this one too. And we're all cheering you on.

It's the human body that is amazing, plus the plan too of course funny how we adapt to change. I was thinking at week two - "there is no way I can run for 20 minutes non-stop in three weeks!" but you just do

Last 5 minutes of my 25 min run on Sunday I was so very nearly sick. Running up a slight hill but it seemed never ending. I just had to keep going - just tried to keep thinking of other things, what I was going to have to drink in the café afterwards, work, my rabbits - anything! If it gets really painful I just slow right down.

Running in silence is definitely harder, I have had frequent tech failures and sheer stubbornness has got me through to the end. I often count steps too as something to concentrate on or look for something ahead which I am aiming towards, a tree or something. If you can find some headphones, music will definitely help. Could you put your phone in one of those armbands and listen to the music from the phone rather than through ear plugs?

Thanks - I'll have a try - though at the moment. I hold my phone to look at the app (simple c25k) to see how long I have to go. It's supposed to vibrate when it's time to swap, but sometimes this doesn't seem to work. My technical skills are poor - need to do a couch to running with music course!

Poems, rhymes, make up words to songs... such fun.. over the winter before I graduated... i made up words to Christmas carols ( I am famous.. sorry, infamous on here, for my rambling posts about things to think of whilst running etc :))

Ignore the gremlins.. they simply hate, being ignored...imagine squishing them with every step.. splodge!

Well done you, anyway ! Onward and upward.. our minds are so brilliant aren't they ?

Over the ear headphones like others suggest are just brilliant as the little ones don't stay in my ears either.

My trick is just focusing on what's around me and varying my route so I constantly think about which way I'm going to turn at the end of the next path/road (not a luxury everyone has depending on where you're running I suppose).

You're right, the programme is just amazing. Then again, it takes you to do it so it's not magic without the effort you also put in

I did C25K in France where I had a gremlin on each shoulder, one from England the other little monster was French...I used to swear at them out loud in each language...good job I don't see many people when I'm running!